Silver and gold coloring the garden
Over at The Grackle, Lee sees his garden bursting with purples and yellows. I miss my former garden’s fall purples like Mexican bush sage, mistflower, and ‘Indigo Spires’ salvia. But I am enjoying a flush of silver and golden yellow and orange in my new garden right now, like the combination of bulbine (B. frutescens) and ‘Powis Castle’ artemesia pictured above.
The black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata) looks rather more orange in this image than in reality, but I’m happy to see its sunny flowers appearing with the cooler weather and recent rains.
A silvery green echeveria
Yellow-striped ‘Bright Edge’ yucca (Y. flaccida ‘Bright Edge’) in front of a silver stock-tank planter. When I moved last fall I dug up a good-size ‘Bright Edge’ yucca from my old garden, divided it from its pups, and brought it with me. Unfortunately, the mother plant did not respond well to its transplantation. It died within a month or two, and one of the pups died too. This is the sole survivor. For a while I thought it would die also, but it rallied this summer and is now producing a pup of its own. Perhaps the problem was disturbing it during the winter. It’s usually best to move agaves and yuccas in the spring or summer.
Golden thryallis (Galphimia glauca) flowers shine against the shady lower garden and contrast nicely with the purple heart (Tradescantia pallida) ground cover.
So what colors are showing up in your fall garden?
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Pam, one of my favorite vines is the Thunbergia alata. I first saw it at a nursery here in Houston. That one had several different color flowers on one vine, the yellow and then a vanilla colored one with a purple center. Is yours all one color?
Thank you for the tip on transplanting agave. Glad to hear the last pup survived.
Yes, all the flowers are the same color. I didn’t know they could be varied. I’d like to see that. —Pam
Thanks for showing the bulbine, Pam. You may know it is my favorite plant that you grow. I love it with the artemesia too. We are on a gold/variegated theme right now for the containers. A switch is being made to permanent plants in them rather than annuals and the gold color really brightens the darker spots. Latest acquisitions are variegated boxwood, B. ‘Elegantissima’ in a very large concrete planter and Carex ‘New Zealand Orange’ in a square red glazed pot. Thank goodness you managed to save at least one yucca, it looks nice and healthy.
Frances
Ooh, that carex sounds intriguing. Perfect for fall, yes? —Pam
I didn’t realize that yuccas are so sensitive to transplanting. I have one that is so happy since the tree that was too near it died. It has responded to more light. The purple in my fall garden is the wild tall asters. They are actually almost blue but the bees and butterflies aren’t too concerned about the hue they just love em.
Oh yes, I need to add asters to my garden next year. I miss those from my old garden too. —Pam
Very pretty. I love the colors of the fall garden!
Thanks, Pam. Fall is my favorite season as the garden comes back to life after summer. —Pam
I really like the Black-eyed Susan vine, wonder why I haven’t used it before?
It’s a pretty vine, isn’t it? —Pam
Bulbine — the tangerine, the yellow all died from mysterious causes — did great in my garden this summer, moved to excellent drainage around a big stone. Combined with Purple Heart and purple alternanthera, it’s a stunner.
Fall here is running to purple and orange in the garden, pink (Agalinis) and yellow (Solidago and Silk Grass) in the wild.
Ooh, I love the mental image of your colorful fall garden, Nell Jean. Thanks for your comment. —Pam
Your new garden is coming along nicely and all your hard work is paying off.
Thanks, MNGarden. I think my new-baby is a toddler now. —Pam
Pam – I have an orange/purple combo that you can grow. I planted orange agastache (name escapes me, but it’s pure orange/apricot with no pink) with agastache ‘Purple Haze’ (‘Black Adder’ would work, too). It’s a fantastic combo! I’m planning to post photos sometime later this week.
Cameron
That does sound like a great combo, Cameron. Would that agastache be ‘Acapulco Salmon & Pink’ by any chance? That’s one that I’m trying out. —Pam
The bulbine with the artemisia is a beautiful combination which you have captured so perfectly with your camera. You certainly have an artist’s flair which is demonstrated, not just in your photography, but in the way you combine plants.
Coming from you, Jenny, I take that as a high compliment indeed. Thank you! —Pam
Love that black-eyed Susan vine–very striking. Thanks for the tip on moving agaves. I was getting ready to divide mine, but I will wait until Spring. Your early Fall garden is looking lovely.
Thanks, Jenny B. Yes, it’s better to wait until spring to move or plant an agave. I’ve done it in the fall without issue, but if you have a choice, hot weather is a better time. —Pam
Ooo, I like that bulbine. Such beautiful warm colors.
And it’s such an easy-to-grow plant too, at least in zone 8b or warmer. —Pam
I LOVE the first photo–the bulbine backed by the silver is gorgeous!
As far as my garden goes, I am waiting for the purple-and-red show to begin. (But it can wait for a little while yet, if it wants! lol.)
I had a lot of purple and red too in my former garden, Kim. It’s an energized combo. Glad you liked the bulbine and artemesia. —Pam
Congratulations, on being recognized for your efforts at tolerating such a terrible Drought.
Nell Jean
Thanks so much, Nell Jean. —Pam
Pam, that thunbergia has been on my radar since noting it growing on a trellis in pots where I get my hair cut — nonstop for countless months. The “baby garden” is putting on quite a show!
The Thunbergia has only just started blooming here, Denise. I guess it would bloom earlier in cooler climates. —Pam
Your silver and gold are beautiful — and congratulations on your Blotanical awards!!
Thank you, Nancy. And congrats on your nomination, which was richly deserved. —Pam
Pam! I have missed your garden and artists eye! Everything looks lovely…and congrats on your Blotanical awards!
Many thanks, Cheryl. I’ll be seeing you soon on the Master Gardeners tour. —Pam
Pam, thanks for the Thunbergia alata pic. I had forgotten about that plant and haven’t seen one for a while. I always enjoy seeing the more exotic Yuccas but unfortunately we have little long term luck with them due to high humidity. They tend to rot out down here during rainy season. love your blog.
Scott
Thanks so much, Scott. I’m trying the Thunbergia for the first time, and so far so good. —Pam
Congratulations on your Blotanical Win Miss Pam.
~ hugs, Cherry
Many thanks, Cherry. Congrats on your win as well! —Pam
I love the silver and gold theme~ It’s really lovely. Like everyone else I am taken with the bulbine; it’s a sweet plant with that gentle orange and yellow coloring. Do you think you’ll add the purples for fall coloring? I love the sedge/grass growing in the container in the background of your last photo. A very nice long shot. Congratulations on your Blotanical wins. gail
Not to this vignette probably, but I sure do want more purples in general. I’ve got a couple of passalong American beautyberries to plant, plus I want the sun-loving purples (salvia, aster) for new beds I plan to dig out soon. That “grass” in the container is our native Nolina texana, also known as basket grass though it’s not a true grass. And congrats to you too, Gail, on your awards! —Pam
You get the most amazing shots! I’m a big fan and congrats on your award at blotanical–I can see why! I’m missing my old gardens too.
Anna, thank you, and congrats on your wins too. They are well-deserved. —Pam
Ooh, I didn’t know about transplanting agaves in spring and summer. Good to know so thanks for sharing. This time of year my garden has purples and pinks. I don’t know where the yellow went! (Hey, isn’t that an old commercial?) Congrats on your Blotanical awards – so well deserved!
Thanks, Jean, and a big congrats to you on winning for Best Louisiana Blog! —Pam
Hmmm…I see a LITTLE purple and yellow there…hard to avoid in the fall!!
So true. But why avoid it? In fact, I need more purple to boost the contrast factor. —Pam